This is an evolving, partial list of assistantships and fellowships and will be updated as faculty know about assistantships from new grants. Please either check back at this site or contact Carolyn Goodwin Kueffner (cgoodwin@uvm.edu, 802-656-2511) to learn which faculty are taking new students. Most of our graduate students do receive some form of funding.
Master’s Research Opportunity, starting Summer 2013: Vermont Agricultural Resilience in a Changing Climate
Position: M.S. position in agricultural climate change mitigation (biogeochemistry)
Posting Date: February 4, 2013
Application Deadline: March 1, 2013
Project: This long-term initiative works with farmers, agricultural service providers, researchers and community organizations to evaluate and implement on-farm climate change mitigation and adaptation practices. We will work with farmers to identify the best strategies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and evaluate the impact of these strategies on the economic health of farms, their environmental quality, and their preservation. This work will involve and inform state and federal policymakers. This position is funded to focus on quantifying the mitigation capacity of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in terms of carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., CO2, CH4 and N2O). More information is available at http://www.uvm.edu/~agroecol/?Page=Vtresearch.html.
Responsibilities: The student will work with Dr. Adair and the interdisciplinary Agricultural Resilience group to quantify carbon storage in and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural BMPs throughout Vermont. Duties will include writing a study plan, implementing sampling protocols, analyzing data, supervising technicians/undergraduate assistants, and preparing publications and presentations for scientific and lay audiences. The position is for two years, potentially serving as a teaching assistant during the first academic year. As a TA, an average of 10 hours/week would be dedicated to this research project and 10 hours/week to TA duties.
Qualifications: The student should demonstrate a strong interest in biogeochemistry and climate change ecosystem ecology and have a B.S. in ecology, environmental science, plant and soil science or a related field. In some cases, related work experience may substitute for prior academic experience. Although training will be provided, experience with field or lab work, including soil, plant and trace gas sampling and analysis is highly desirable. While not required, preference will be given to students with quantitative skills, including statistical analyses and programming in R.
Application: Interested applicants should submit the following: letter of interest, names and contact information of three references, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, and CV to Dr. Carol Adair. Applicants will need to apply to the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) Graduate School before final acceptance (http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/graduate-application-process)
Contact: Carol Adair, Assistant Professor
RSENR, University of Vermont
Carol.Adair@uvm.edu, 802.656.2907
http://adairlab.weebly.com/
http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/cadair/
Ph.D. Position in Forest Climate Change Biogeochemistry, starting Summer 2013
Posting Date: February 4, 2013
Application Deadline: March 1, 2013
Project: The goal of the Northern Forest mesocosm climate change experiment is to quantify how climate warming will alter the ability of forests to retain and store carbon (C) and nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). The ability of forests to retain C and nutrients has important consequences for climate change mitigation, soil fertility and water quality. How climate change alters such critical services will be examined via warming and snow removal treatments on in-field forest mesocosms designed to quantify water, C and nutrient inputs and outputs from identical forest communities on two different soils. This position is funded to examine cabon and nutrient losses and retention in mesocosm soils and plant biomass, with a focus on microbial/soil processes.
Responsibilities: The student will be expected to work to quantify and potentially model carbon/nutrient storage and fluxes. Duties will include writing a study plan, implementing sampling protocols, analyzing data, supervising technicians/undergraduate assistants, and preparing publications and presentations for scientific and lay audiences. The position is for a minimum of three years, potentially serving as a teaching assistant during the first two academic years. As a TA, an average of 10 hours/week would be dedicated to this research project and 10 hours/week to TA duties.
Qualifications: The student should demonstrate a strong interest in biogeochemistry and climate change ecosystem ecology and have a B.S. in ecology, environmental science, plant and soil science or a related field. In some cases, related work experience may substitute for prior academic experience. Although training will be provided, experience with field or lab work, including microbial and soil analyses is highly desirable. While not required, preference will be given to students with quantitative skills, including statistical analyses and programming in R.
Application: Interested applicants should submit the following: letter of interest, names and contact information of three references, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, and CV to Dr. Carol Adair. Applicants will need to apply to the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) Graduate School before final acceptance (http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/graduate-application-process)
Contact: Carol Adair, Assistant Professor
RSENR, University of Vermont
Carol.Adair@uvm.edu, 802.656.2907
http://adairlab.weebly.com/
http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/cadair/
Research Assistantship in Ecological Economics
Posting Date: September 2012
Position: MS Research Assistantship
Project: We seek a creative, quantitative Masters student to help us test the relationships between natural ecosystems and human welfare using big, diverse datasets. Much of human welfare and health is linked to the functioning of the world’s ecosystems, but the nature and strength of these links is poorly quantified and therefore controversial. The Master’s student will help us better understand these links, as part of a newly-funded project at NSF’s new social-environmental synthesis center, SESYNC. Our project will combine several global, freely available datasets (e.g., geo-referenced household and agricultural surveys, biophysical and governance data) to test relationships among human health and welfare, ecological condition, and natural resource governance. We will focus on sub-Saharan Africa and coastal fisheries in the developing world.
Responsibilities: The student will: access these datasets and compile them into a common database; help develop a data retrieval system to ease in analysis and publication; select a specific research question within the project to pursue as an MS thesis; spend time at SESYNC in Annapolis, MD to develop the database with their IT staff and to participate in working group meetings.
Qualifications: The student needs: exceptional quantitative skills, including data handling, database development, data quality control, programming in R; the ability to work independently and to deliver high quality products; the ability to work effectively within broad collaborative teams.
Application: Candidates must apply to UVM's Graduate College to work in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. In addition, please send a letter of interest and resume to Brendan.Fisher@wwfus.org.
Transportation Research Center at the University of Vermont
Posting Date: August 2012
Application Deadline: March 1, 2013
Position: One-year (12-month) graduate student research assistantships of $28,000 for the academic year 2013-2014 are available to full-time UVM graduate students (U.S. Citizens or permanent residents) who work as research assistants (RAs) for 20 hours per week on transportation research related to the Center's theme. Of particular interest to the TRC is work that relates to risk and resiliency as they relate to transportation systems, particularly in northern, rural, exurban and micropolitan contexts. Students may be in any graduate program within UVM's colleges or schools.
Responsibilities: Students chosen for the research assistantship must have been accepted into a UVM graduate program before starting. Students should plan to make transportation the core of their graduate student thesis. In most cases, the student's thesis should build on the research conducted during the research assistantship.
Application & Qualifications: Please check with the graduate coordinator for up to day information on application procedures. The following information as part of your application is important:
More details or contact Glenn McRae, UVM TRC Graduate Program Coordinator
Aiken Center - Green Building Studies
Posting Date: November 2011
Position: M.S. Research Assistantship
Responsibilities: Conduct research on the functioning of a Green Renovation (LEED Platinum anticipated). Research opportunities include: green roof ecosystem functioning (nutrient cycling, water cycling, energy budget), whole system water cycling. see: http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/greening-aiken
Qualifications: BS in environmental science, engineering, ecosystem science or relevant fields and a strong interest in experimental ecological research. Strong quantitative, teamwork, and writing skills required.
Application: To apply for this position, submit cover letter, CV, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, and contact information for three references to Gary Hawley or Deane Wang (ghawley@uvm.edu, dwang@uvm.edu).
Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory
Project: Impacts of climate and global change on arctic stream ecosystems
Description: Opportunities exist from time to time to support students who will focus on their research on some aspect of how the changing arctic environment affects the structure and function of stream ecosystems. Past work has focused on primary production, hyporheic processing, tundra fires, and thermokarst. Future work will focus on top-down effects of top consumers, thermokarst impacts on landscape evolution, and late-season nutrient dynamics in arctic streams. Support for graduate students is dependent on availability of funds Qualifications: Preference will be given to PhD students with a strong background in biogeochemistry, hydrology, and/or stream ecology. Well-prepared and experienced MS students will be considered.
Application/Contact: Dr. Breck Bowden at breck.bowden@uvm.edu (802-656-2513) for further details, and see www.uvm.edu/~wbowden.
Park Studies Lab, Rubenstein School
Position: Ph.D. Fellowship in Protected Area Management at the University of Vermont/Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Responsibilities: This doctoral fellowship is part of an on-going partnership between the NPS Conservation Study Institute and The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources/Park Studies Laboratory. The substantive focus of the research is designed to meet the needs of the NPS and the expertise of the Rubenstein School/Park Studies Laboratory faculty. Current research address new models of conservation such as NPS national heritage areas, issues of cultural diversity applied to national parks, and management of national parks for outdoor recreation. A doctoral fellowship is offered in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) Conservation Study Institute and successful applicants will work closely with UVM faculty and NPS staff.
Qualifications: An M.S. in applied social science is required along with strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills. Applicants should also be comfortable with conducting research in highly interdisciplinary environments at the interface between science and management.
Application: Dr. Robert Manning (Robert.Manning@uvm.edu), 802-656-3096
Park Studies Lab, Rubenstein School
Position: Development of Indicators and Standards for Sustainable Transportation in Parks and Related Outdoor Recreation/Tourism Contexts
Responsibilities: Transportation is an important component of the experience of visiting parks and outdoor recreation/tourism-related areas. This study will help define a set of indicators and standards of quality that can be used to guide planning and management of sustainable transportation in this context. Study sites will include a national park, a scenic byway, and resort community. This study is funded by the UVM Transportation Center and includes a Graduate Research Assistantship at the doctoral level for three years. The Graduate Research Assistant will work with other students and staff in the Rubenstein School's Park Studies Laboratory.
Application: Dr. Robert Manning (Robert.Manning@uvm.edu), 802-656-3096
Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory
Position: Watershed Science and Nonpoint Source Pollution
Responsibilities: A broad variety of watershed and ecosystem research is available through several funded projects. Students with a strong background in science and related ecological disciplines are encouraged to contact the principal investigators listed above. Research includes studies stormwater runoff; phosphorus loading from land to surface water; community-based watershed management; integrated land-use, transportation, and environmental modeling using a complex systems approach; threat analysis of the Lake Champlain Basin.
Application/Contact: Dr. Breck Bowden (wbowden@uvm.edu); Dr. Deane Wang (deane.wang@uvm.edu)
Park Studies Lab, Rubenstein School
Position: Carrying Capacity of Parks and Protected Areas
Responsibilities: The Park Studies Laboratory consists of faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students interested in parks and protected areas. We conduct a program of research for the U.S. National Park Service and other agencies on planning and managing outdoor recreation. Current projects are being conducted at Acadia National Park, Denali National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Champlain, and the Northern Forest. Graduate Research Assistantships are available at both the masters and doctoral levels.
Application: Dr. Robert Manning (Robert.Manning@uvm.edu), 802-656-3096
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Position: Teaching Assistantships
Responsibilities: The Rubenstein School also has many teaching assistantships available each academic year starting in September. Graduate teaching assistants lead field and indoor laboratories, facilitate discussion sessions among small groups of undergraduates, assist with evaluation and grading, and run workshops and help sessions. Typical assignments are for ten hours a week.
Qualifications: Teaching Assistantships assignments are competitive and based on GRE scores, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation and requests from student advisors.
Application: Check box on submitted UVM electronic application
